Dear Acadia,
Happy New Year!
Do you make New
Year’s Resolutions?? The only NYR I was ever successful at was to
not make any more New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t want to break
it now. I tell myself that I should be doing something similar
weekly, should we not? Check in with ourselves, repent, resolve and
covenant to do better? Daily even, but especially in preparation for
the Sacrament. I do confess that I do not often think of it, but I
know I should and I do manage sometimes.
I also do not go out
and celebrate on New Year’s Eve. I prefer to be safe and
comfortable at home. Maybe watch some celebrations on TV and
probably go to bed at the regular time (which for me, honestly could
be anywhere from 8 to 10 or maybe 11) Officially, Family Prayer and
Scripture) is at 9 and then I get ready for bed. But some evenings
one of us (usually me) asks for early FP&S. Once in a while so
we can watch a movie and not be too tired for FP&S when it is
over, but more often because we are tired.
The new curriculum
for Come, Follow Me is the Book of Mormon. So now what are we going
to do? We usually read a chapter every night after Family Prayer.
On Monday at dinner we read from “Come, Follow Me” and call it
Home Evening. I think we are going to spend a little time with
“Come, Follow Me” for our FP&S. See how that works. Which
will lead to new decision making next year about how to work in
reading the BoM daily.
I hope you had a
Merry Christmas! I hope my little package made it to you.
We had a bit of a
long, leisurely Christmas.
Our traditional
bread, fruit, and cheese on Christmas Eve while talking about Jesus
and his birth. I had not been feeling well, so I didn’t have a
plan for the evening. It would have been better if I had.
Christmas morning
was just us at the Patch. I had told Santa not to bother with us,
which honestly made me a little sad. He surprised us, however with
chocolates! We all were up at different times and quietly did our own
thing. I watched The Nativity and some other Christmasy movies.
Every now and then I asked if they wanted to open a couple of
presents, but no one leaped with interest, so it waited until way
late in the day. David and Teresa came over and hung out. It was
pleasant and peaceful, but not especially Christmasy. Miriam took
the day off her special diet, so I made cinnamon rolls, we each put
pizza toppings on our own Focccaia bread, and we had Tater Tots.
Foods she sometimes misses a lot.
Some of us were glad
to have the couple days after Christmas day to finish getting family
presents together. Saturday was fun! ! We all gathered at Debi’s
for gift exchange and were even able to be on the phone with your
folks for hours. Three elves gave homemade chocolates to their
giftee AND so the rest of us wouldn’t be jealous, each made little
bags of chocolates for the rest of us. My children each gave me
chocolate, as well. Debi gave a couple of us Nativities from her day
in Portugal. Mine is so tiny! The base is little bigger than a good
sized postage stamp! She also gave me a rock with a fish painted on
it from Portugal. Really cute. I want to find time to do rock
painting. I started to, but life is full. Hinds gave me and apron
and “4 seasons towels” made with the kids’ hand prints. The
hands are flowers on the apron and in the spring, cardinals in the
winter, leaves in the fall, sand un rays in the summer. Cute and
clever. Jared did a wood burning Nativity for me. David and Teresa
gave me Downton Abby cds. And Mercy Street dvds. For my next, but
shorter obsession. It only lasted 2 seasons. Too bad. It was good.
Chocolate was one of
the most popular gitts to give and receive this year. I wonder if
there will be a reaction next year and no one gives chocolate. Hope
not!
So far, I have only
had to give one person receipts to return the gift I gave them. I
really liked the sweaters I found for Joseph and so did he, but they
were two small in the neck and too long in the arm. What a
combination. He does not have a thick neck or short arms. But maybe
he doesn’t like things on his neck much. I don’t.
With Christmas, 2nd
Christmas, special Sacrament Meeting, people taking days off from
work, I got quite mixed up on the day of the week and frequently had
to check my phone. Not done yet, with New Year’s this Wednesday
but that should be less disruptive because my Christmas was sort of
Sunday like, but I expect New Years to be less so.
Andrew has been
called back into teaching Primary. 7 turning 8. With the 74 year
old husband of our RS president. He is really a big kid. An
absolute imp. Except not at all evil. Definitely mischievous. They
have worked together before. It should be good.
I have had a slight
cold for a couple of weeks now. Which meant that when Benjamin,
Bethany, and Jacob came to the family gift exchange, I had to wear a
mask and I did not try to hold him. Slowly getting better.
Hopefully, I can get to know my newest grandchild soon.
I sure love my
oldest grandchild! And I am so proud of you! We will be working on
plans to go to your homecoming soon. Don’t get trunky! Savor
every minute and keep working hard. I know you will. Some
missionaries sort of stop focusing on the work, but I think most
really throw themselves into it as they realize their time is growing
short.
Love you!
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